Multiple container carrier

ABSTRACT

A carrier device for use with multiple container carriers for effectively interlocking and transporting of a plurality of multiple container carriers when the multiple container carriers are mounted on the containers.

Unite States Patent 1191 Klygis [54] MULTIPLE CONTAINER CARRIER [75]Inventor: M. Julius Klygis, Evergreen Park,

Ill.

[73] Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago,

[22] Filed: June 2,1971

21 Appl. No.: 149,312

[52] U.S. Cl ..294/87.2, 206/65 C, 206/65 CT,

224/45 P [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 71/00 [58] Field of Search ..206/65 C, 65S, 65 CT;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,405,914 8/1946 vrfliosen..'....'22"9'/52 A 3,454,156 7/1969 Chatten ..229 s2 A x [451 Apr. 10,1973 3,612,266 10/1971 Graser ..294/87.2 X 3,297,220 1/1967 Leeberg.....294/87 R X 3,251,622 5/1966 Miller 294/87 R X 2,709,618 5/9155Melvillem. ..294/87.28 2,709,619 5/1955 Melville ..294/87.28

Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-W. Scott CarsonAttorney-Robert W. Beart, Jack R. Halvorsen, Thomas W. Buckman andEdward L. Benno ABSTRACT A carrier device for use with multiplecontainer carriers for effectively interlocking and transporting of aplurality of multiple container carriers when the multiple containercarriers are mounted on the containers.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MULTIPLE CONTAINER CARRIER SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a carrier device for use withmultiple container carriers such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,874,835 andis further an improvement over my co-pending application, Ser. No.118,000, Filed on Feb. 23, 1971 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,276. Containercarriers of U.S. Pat. No. 2,874,835 are extensively used for themultiple packaging of containers, usually metal beverage containers,which are generally commercially sold in multiples of six. The presentinvention cooperates with a number of such multiple container carriersto form a single package of the number of containers carried in themultiple container carriers. With two such carriers each carrying sixcans or containers, a convenient interlocked and unitary package oftwelve containers would be provided with the device of the presentinvention. The present invention contemplates the cooperation of thecarrier device with the finger holes or holds and longitudinal sideedges of the individual multiple container carriers. The presentinvention is an improvement over my noted co-pending application in theconstruction and arrangement of the carrier device so that when it isassociated with a pair of multiple container carriers, such as notedabove, the subject carrier is locked onto the multiple containercarriers to an extent that removal of the subject carrier from themultiple container carriers is virtually impossible without tearing orotherwise destroying the multiple container carriers. The presentinvention is a further improvement over my noted co-pending appli cationin the formation and normal configuration of the integral handle meansof the device for convenient transporting of the resulting unitary pack.The handle means provides a convenient hand-grasping arrangement, andyet groups of unitary packages may be easily stacked with substantiallyno stacking interference from the device.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a simplecarrier device for multiple container carriers which is quickly andeasily applied, provides a convenient carrying arrangement for multiplecontainer carrier packs, and effectively locks multiple containercarriers together.

More specifically, it is the object of the present invention to providea carrier device for a plurality of multiple container carriers such asshown, by way of example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,874,835.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention areobtained by the provision of a carrier device formed from a sheet ofresilient semirigid plastic, or like material, in which certaindepending tabs are provided for interlocking cooperation with certainportions of known multiple container carriers. When two multiplecontainer carriers with the containers therein are arranged in alongitudinal side-byside relationship, the carrier device of the presentinvention is positioned over and transversely of the multiple containercarriers. The carrier device is then projected downwardly to snap thecertain tabs on the carrier device into locking engagement with the pairof multiple container carriers. The individual containers are easilyremoved from the multiple container carriers by pulling and deflectingthe individual containers downwardly and outwardly of the multiplecontainer carriers.

The carrier device of the present invention may not be pulled orseparated from the multiple container carriers without substantiallytearing or destroying the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is atop plan view of a carrier constructed according to the presentinvention and applied to a pair of multiple container carriers;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the structure shown inFIG. 1 and taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the structure'shown inFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The carrier device of thesubject invention is intended to be associated with two multiplecontainer carriers of a type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,874,835. The twomultiple container carriers are shown at 10 in the drawing, andgenerally each carrier 10 comprises a flat unsupported sheet of plasticmaterial provided with a plurality of spaced-apart apertures, generallysix in number. The apertures are somewhat smaller than the diameter ofthe cans with which the carrier is to be assembled, and the plasticmaterial generally is a resilient, deformable material, such forexample, as polyethylene. The carriers 10 are applied over the tops of agroup of containers such as cans 11 so that the carriers 10 arepositioned immediately below the top head or chime of the cans 11. Whenapplied to the cans 11, the material of the carriers 10 about theapertures assumes a substantially flat band-like configuration as may beseen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Finger holes or holds 12 are provided in thecarriers 10 longitudinally centrally thereof and between each group offour apertures. The

edge portions of the carriers 10 about the finger holes 12 and at theinterconnecting web portions form relatively stable horizontal extendingedges. These edges may clearly be seen as the cross-sectional areasshown in FIG. 2 wherein the finger holes 12 are identified and the edgeportions of the opposed interconnecting web portions are identified at13.

The carrier device of the present invention is shown at 14 in thedrawing, and is preferably formed from a sheet of semi-rigid plasticmaterial of substantially uniform thickness. -In one embodiment of theinvention, the plastic material is one which is capable of sustainingmolecular orientation. Examples of such a material are polymers, such aspolyethylene, and other plastic materialssuch as polypropylene andpolyvinyl chloride. When such a material is sufficiently indented, atnormal ambient temperatures, with a tool having edges roundedsufficiently to avoid cutting the material, the molecules of thematerial in and about the indentation are substantially oriented toincrease the strength of the material in and about the indentation andto permit relatively easy folding of the material on the longitudinalaxis of the indentation.

The carrier device 14 of the present invention is further formed to havean elongated central member 15 and two integral side members 16. Thecentral member 15 and the side members 16 have a length sufficient tospan the finger holes 12 of a pair of multiple container carriers whenthe carriers 10 are placed in a longitudinal side-by-side position suchas shown in FIG. 1. The side members 16 generally depend from thecentral member as may be seen in the drawing. If the carrier device 14is formed from a material that is not capable of sustaining molecularorientation, the integral connection between the side members 16 and thecentral member 15 may be formed by scoring or otherwise forming thecorners. If the material of the carrier device 14 is one which iscapable of sustaining molecular orientation, the integral connectionbetween the side members 16 and the central member 15 is preferablyformed by line indentations with the indentations being formed at normalambient temperatures to an extent providing substantial orientation ofthe molecules of the material in and about the indentations.

The central member 15 is provided with two longitudinally extendingslits having generally semi-circular end portions to define an integralhandle 17. The slits are so formed that the longitudinal central portionof the handle 17 is substantially wider than the integral end portionsof the handle 17 to define a convenient hand-gripping portion. Thesemi-circular end portions of the slits in the central member 15 arecurved outwardly from the longitudinal central axis of the centralmember 15 toward the longitudinal side marginal edges and terminateshort of the integral interconnection between the central member 15 andthe side members 16 as may be seen in FIG. 1. The material of thecentral member 15 remaining on each side of the handle 17 serves to addto the rigidity and stability of the central member 15 If the materialof the carrier device 14 is one which will not sustain molecularorientation, a plurality of lines 18 are formed in the handle 17 byscoring or other forming to produce an upwardly bowed configuration ofthe hand-griping portion of the handle 17. This configuration of thecentral portion of the handle 17 may clearly be seen in the end viewshown in FIG. 3 and permits easy encircling of the hand-gripping portionof the handle 17 by a persons fingers. If the material of the carrierdevice 14 is one which will sustain molecular orientation, the lines 18are preferably formed as longitudinally extending transverselyspaced-apart line indentations with the line indentations being formedto an extent sufficient to substantially orient the molecules of thematerial in and about the line indentations 18. The line indentations 18are made with an indenting tool applied on the upper surface of thehandle 17 with the underside of the handle 17 against a suitable platento provide the bowed shape seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The central member 15further is slightly bowed with the side portions direction downwardly asmay be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The resulting raised position of thelongitudinal central portion of the central member 15 further enhancesthe raised position of the handle 17 to further provide for easyencircling of the handgripping portion of the handle 17 by a personsfingers when the carrier device 14 is applied to the multiple containercarriers 10 carrying the cans 11. By virtue of the resiliency of thematerial of the carrier device 14 and the resiliency of the multiplecontainer carriers 10', any substantial loading placed on the top of theunitary package of the carrier device 14 and the multiple containercarriers 10 will permit the central member 15 and the handle 17 tosubstantially flatten against the upper surface of the cans 11. Thisarrangement permits convenient stacking of unitary packages of thesubject invention and multiple container carriers 10 with the includedcans 1 1.

The lower edge portions of each of the side members 16 are provided witha number of integral tabs 19. In the preferred embodiments, there arethree tabs 19 depending from the lower edge of each side member 16 in alongitudinally spaced-apart relationship as can be seen in FIG. 2. Theshank portions of the two end tabs 19 on each side member 16 have awidth substantially equal to the diameter of the finger holes 12. Theshank portion of the center tab 19 on each side member 16 has a widthsubstantially equal to the spacing between the edge portions 13 of theadjacent multiple container carriers 10. Each tab 19 below the shankportion thereof is provided with a pair of outwardly extending ears 20.The side marginal edges of the cars 20 on the tabs 19 are formed togenerally converge in a downward direction. The integral connectionbetween the ears 20 and the remaining portions of the tabs 19 aregenerally defined by lines 21. If the material of the carrier device 14is one which is not capable of sustaining molecular orientation, thelines 21 are formed as slits which terminate short of the upper andlower edges of the cars 20. If the material of the carrier device 14 isone which will sustain molecular orientation, the lines 21 arepreferably formed as line indentations with the indentations beingformed to an extent providing substantial orientation of the moleculesof the material in and about the line indentations 21. In eitherembodiment, the slits or line indentations 21 provide for a substantialflexibility of the ears 20 so that the cars 20 may be folded about theaxis of the lines 21 when the carrier device 14 is projected downwardlyover a pair of multiple container carriers 10 aligned as shown in thedrawing. When the ears 20 are moved below the plane of the multiplecontainer carriers 10, the resiliency of the material of the carrierdevice 14 will permit the ears 20 to at least partially return towardthe plane of the tabs 19 to lock the carrier device 14 to the multiplecontainer carriers 10 and to further interlock the two multiplecontainer carriers 10 and the carrier device 14 together as a unitarypackage.

The tabs 19 are further provided with vertical centrally disposed lines22 which may be seen in FIG. 2. The lines 22 serve to further permit thetabs 19 to partially fold when the carrier device 14 is projecteddownwardly over the pair of multiple container carriers 10. In theinstance of the material of the carrier device 14 being one which willnot sustain molecular orientation, the lines 22 are formed as slits, andin the instance of the material being one which will sustain molecularorientation, the lines 22 are preferably formed as indentations to anextent sufficient to provide substantial orientation of the molecules ofthe material in and about the lines 22.

When the carrier device 14 is mounted on a pair of multiple containercarriers including the cans 11, the resulting unitary package is asimple and convenient arrangement for retaining and transporting thecans 11. The described arrangement effectively locks the carrier device14 to the multiple container carriers 10 against removal of the carrierdevice 14 from the multiple container carriers 10 when the multiplecontainer carriers 10 are mounted on the cans 11. Any attempt to pullthe carrier device 14 from the multiple container carriers 10 when thecarriers 10 are mounted on the cans 11 can be accomplished only bysubstantially tearing or otherwise destroying the portions of themultiple container carriers 10 cooperating with the carrier device 14.

Having described the invention, it is to be understood that changes canbe made in the described embodiments within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carrier device formed from a sheet of plastic material in aninverted U-shape comprising a rectangular central member and integralside members depending from opposite longitudinal edges of said centralmember, a plurality of tabs integrally formed to depend from each ofsaid side members, said tabs being formed to include integral earmembers extending outwardly from said tabs generally in the planes ofsaid tabs and said side members, the outward marginal edges of said earmembers being formed to converge downwardly toward the center line ofthe associated tab, said ear members including line means formed topermit relatively resilient folding of said ear members about thelongitudinal axes of said line means, the longitudinal axes of said linemeans being positioned to converge downwardly toward the center line ofthe associated tab, a handle means integrally formed in said centralmember to extend longitudinally centrally thereof, and said handle meansbeing formed to have a central handgripping portion of substantiallygreater width than the integral end portions thereof.

2. A carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said line meanscomprises slits formed through said ear members and terminating a spaceddistance from the upper and lower marginal edges of said ear members.

3. A carrier device as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier deviceis formed from a sheet of plastic material capable of sustainingmolecular orientation.

4. A carrier device as defined in claim 3, wherein said line meanscomprises line indentations in said ear members to an extent providingsubstantial orientation of the molecules of said material in and aboutsaid line identations.

5. A carrier device as defined in claim 3, wherein the integralconnection of said side members to said central member comprises lineindentations in said material to an extent providing substantialorientation of the molecules of said material in and about said lines.

6. A carrier device as defined in claim 3, wherein said centralhandgripping portion includes a plurality of longitudinally extendingand transversely spacedapart indentations, said indentations beingformed to an extent to provide substantial orientation of the moleculesof said material In and about said indentations.

1. A carrier device formed from a sheet of plastic material in aninverted U-shape comprising a rectangular central member and integralside members depending from opposite longitudinal edges of said centralmember, a plurality of tabs integrally formed to depend from each ofsaid side members, said tabs being formed to include integral earmembers extending outwardly froM said tabs generally in the planes ofsaid tabs and said side members, the outward marginal edges of said earmembers being formed to converge downwardly toward the center line ofthe associated tab, said ear members including line means formed topermit relatively resilient folding of said ear members about thelongitudinal axes of said line means, the longitudinal axes of said linemeans being positioned to converge downwardly toward the center line ofthe associated tab, a handle means integrally formed in said centralmember to extend longitudinally centrally thereof, and said handle meansbeing formed to have a central hand-gripping portion of substantiallygreater width than the integral end portions thereof.
 2. A carrierdevice as defined in claim 1, wherein said line means comprises slitsformed through said ear members and terminating a spaced distance fromthe upper and lower marginal edges of said ear members.
 3. A carrierdevice as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier device is formed froma sheet of plastic material capable of sustaining molecular orientation.4. A carrier device as defined in claim 3, wherein said line meanscomprises line indentations in said ear members to an extent providingsubstantial orientation of the molecules of said material in and aboutsaid line identations.
 5. A carrier device as defined in claim 3,wherein the integral connection of said side members to said centralmember comprises line indentations in said material to an extentproviding substantial orientation of the molecules of said material inand about said lines.
 6. A carrier device as defined in claim 3, whereinsaid central hand-gripping portion includes a plurality oflongitudinally extending and transversely spaced-apart indentations,said indentations being formed to an extent to provide substantialorientation of the molecules of said material in and about saidindentations.